OESJ school ‘threat’ caused by confusion

Briana O'Hara

Reporter

bohara@leaderherald.com

OPPENHEIM — Due to misleading social media posts that stemmed from the threat made to Gloversville Middle School, which was deemed not credible, students and parents believed there was a school shooting threat made to Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville School District. OESJ Superintendent David Holloran said no credible threats were made to the school district.

Montgomery County Undersheriff Robert Thomas III said there were indications from social media posts on Sunday of a possible threat made to OESJ School District. As a result, precautions were taken to ensure safety at the schools. He said local police departments went to school districts in Montgomery County on Monday. Thomas said there was no direct information of threats made to the OESJ School District and the social media posts related to the threats made to Gloversville Middle School.

“We are on heightened awareness,” Thomas said.

Holloran said some students received information about threats from Gloversville and made vague posts on social media which others took as threats being made towards OESJ School District. He said the post about the threat made in Gloversville “somehow got lost in translation.” Those social media posts about there being a threat made to OESJ. When the superintendent received word of the alleged threat, he called police. However, there was no credible threat to OESJ and as a precaution police were at the school Monday and Holloran encouraged everyone to go to school that day.

“Safety of the students and staff is the most important thing at OESJ,” Holloran said. He added that social media is not the place to express fears. “We need to do a better job when using social media.”